My daughter Sahana participated in the Kutty Chutties Program on Sun TV last weekend.
To give or not to give? That is the question.
It was a beautiful Saturday morning. At about 8.00 am, my daughter and I drove to a diagnostics center for some regular blood work. I was lucky enough to get a parking spot right in front of the building. We walked in and got ourselves added to the self-check-in portal and it said the wait time for us was 21 minutes. We looked around and realized that we were the only people not wearing a mask. (No that does not make us science deniers or conspiracy theory followers. đ We are just a couple of ordinary people who forgot to take a mask with us – Maybe we got too used to not wearing masks). Anyway, we didnât want to stand inside the office and make others uncomfortable so we decided to go back and wait in the car.
Like most dads of a teenage daughter, am sitting there and making stupid dad jokes to distract her from looking at her phone. I had kept the door open for ventilation and didnât turn the AC on. I saw a man walking towards my car on the left. He looked a little older perhaps 60+, well dressed – Shorts, T Shirt, Socks and Shoes, hair well combed.
He said, “Hey chief, you speak English?â For a second, I thought he was going to ask me for directions to someplace so I said âYes… how can I help you?â. He said he is from somewhere in Texas and his mom is admitted at Memorial Herman and he doesnât even have money for gas… Well, at least I think that was the gist of what he said. Honestly, the moment he started telling a story he lost me because I knew what was coming. He was going to ask me for some cash. So am hearing what he is saying but am really not listening. My mind started wondering if this person is telling the truth. But how am I to say if he is being genuine while I am not even listening? My mind is running all these possibilities already… A scammer? Guy collecting money for booze? drugs? Perhaps going to attack us and I need to protect my daughter? Am already telling myself – “you should have stayed inside”, “you shouldn’t have kept the door open and nor made eye contact with him”
As he finished his statement by saying “can you spare some cash? any cash?” I had a fraction of a second to make a decision. I could have said No and looked away and closed the door of the car. If any one of those bad theories I had in mind were to be true, and I had said no, then kudos to me… But what if this guy was genuine and I had turned him away? The guilt would bother me for a long time. So I made the decision to pick up my wallet – Looked in I had 2 one dollar bills and a $20 bill. I was like ‘Aw man why can’t my wallet make my decision easy?’ Now I am confronted with another decision to make – After all he asked for any cash. Should I just give him $2 or give him $20? I pulled the $20 and gave it to him.
He thanked me and walked past my car, I was watching him for a while on the car’s rearview mirror. He kept walking and at one point I looked away and decided to get back to the building and check the status of the queue.
Since the incident, this thought has been bothering me. Did I make a mistake? Should I have not given him any money? I guess I would never know. Am sure a lot of us face this situation every day. What would you do?? My situation reminded me of this Jim Carrey dialogue from Liar Liar “Because I believe you will booze with it. I just want to get from the car to my office without being confronted by the decay western society. Plus I’m cheap” đ
Image Courtesy – Youtube – Took a screenshot from the movie scene.
The Paradox of Privacy
Am an immigrant hear in The US for employment. So obviously I did not have the luxury of growing up here and shaping my views and thought process in line with most Americans. Of course when you come from a different culture you start noticing a lot of paradox in the culture you are trying to embrace.
One such is this notion of privacy here. The level of importance that is given to privacy in the US in just mind boggling.
So much so if a Presidential nominee does not deal with the questions around privacy appropriately, it could break their primary candidacy in the elections… You may have noticed that recently in the republican primary debates… I remember seeing this movie ‘Enemy of the state’ starring Will Smith. The whole movie plot is around privacy.
Anyways, coming to the important point about the paradox… I find
 it incomprehensible as to how little people care for their privacy in the public toilets or toilets at work places. A typical workplace toilet looks like this one. Just look at the gap between the frame and door. A place where you are pretty much going to be pants and under pants down, a place for all practical purposes you could be displaying your private parts to the person walking in from the other side, it seems absolutely ok to people here. Read the rest of this entry
My Take on AAP forming a Delhi Govt.
Based on what is currently happening with the Delhi Govt. formation, the re-election seems inevitable… But the path to that reelection could yield different results. I have put that down visually… tell me what you think…
Now I know why am vegetarian… Finally!
A question that haunted me for a very long time. Not many people have asked me why I am a vegetarian… but when someone does, I have had no better logical 
answer than saying, “Look am from a Brahmin community who are vegetarian… My dad, my mom, my grandparents, everyone are vegetarian so am a vegetarian too..”
Although I am finally going to conclude to the same reason, I really wanted some logical reasoning for being vegetarian… After all, what is the fun in just doing what we have been told to do and not choose to do something yourself… Right!
So I started asking myself some of the questions which are common myths about being vegetarian. In a sense I really confronted myself and my earlier beliefs.
Is it the ‘killing’?
This is the most popular cover that vegetarians have taken I guess. Atleast for me the answer is NO. I have to admit that when I was a kid, I have caught dragon flies and killed them, I have killed garden lizards, I have killed garden snakes.. Atleast for snakes there is a perceived fear but for the others there was nothing.. I still repent doing some of those…
Anyways, forget being a kid, even as an adult I have consciously killed thousands and thousands of mosquitos.. I would be stupid to generously watch the 
mosquito bite me and suck up my blood, make me itchy and leave me with malaria…Here I couldn’t even argue saying that ‘well it bites me so I hit back’, because I have killed several mosquitos which just sit out there quietly. I am just assuming that they are going to bite me or my family.. so I kill them…
So the killing or the blood are not the reasons for sure…
Is it the smell/taste (or perceived bad taste)??
Well if its sea food… absolutely… thats the reason… Man I can’t stand the smell of sea food… But… But… But… There are a lot of vegetables that while cooking
could smell bad… Example, when cabbage or cauliflower boils, its not a great smell..
Taste couldn’t be the case either because I have not tasted meat to say that it tastes bad… Some people say that the soy chunks actually tastes like chicken.. I like Soy chunks… So technically I should like chicken taste… Plus, there are some vegetable who’s taste I don’t like either… So this reason is shot down too…
If the above two main potential factors are not the reasons, then what is the reason?
Here you go…
I have been reading Mahabaratha written by Sri Rajagopalachari (This is a must read book… Beautifully written). In that book, there are several sections which clearly shows that the Pandavas (Kshatriyas/Warriors) ate meat. This one story where Bhima actually eats all the meat and food before slaying Bahasura.
The other instance where Dharmaputra is confronted by some animals while they are living in the forest and request them to move on to another forest because these animals are fast depleting since the Pandavas have been living off them. So the pandavas realize they have to conserve the eco system in that forest and hence move on to another forest.. and so on…
So my point is, that Kshatriyas where meant to fight battles, and hence had to eat meat for a getting that additional strength and aggression.. They need the killer instinct.
But Brahmins on the other hand where primarily working as priest in temples or in the king’s palace as spiritual advisers, chanters, etc… By profession they are not expected to have the aggression.
I recently read an interview of the ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson.. Here is what he says about his meat/steak eating habits.. and how he has changed now upon his wife’s 
insistence.
….”I think that food makes you oversexual,” he goes on. “It makes you angry, it makes you aggressive — I can’t believe the difference in the person I am now compared to four years ago.â
Conclusion:
I am not working in a coal mine or a steal plant or a oil rig or a soldier. My work is primarily on computers and involves thinking and nothing physical really. I 
get the strength I need by just eating vegetables… It just prevents me from getting the unnecessary aggression which comes by eating meat and my profession is not compatible to vent that aggression out.
SO THAT IS WHY AM VEGETARIAN…
PS: I am talking for myself… Not for anyone else in my family… đ
Tyson Caricature taken from:Â http://sportsmockery.com/mike-tyson-it-tasted-like-shit/
Its just not fair… Tomato Vs Avocado…
I have come across many ‘Its just not fair.. ‘ moments… This is one of the best…
Sky Fall The First Boooooooooond Movie
Image taken from http://www.smashcaptures.com/
After watching the movie on the way back home, I was giving it a hard thought on how I should title my blog.  There were lots  about this movie which is different than the other bonds (I will come to that shortly) but there was on thing that stood out in my mind – It is just a long movie for a Hollywood film… I think it was like 2.5 hours… But I must admit that although it was a long movie, the director has done justice to that time (except for certain aspects – will be covered in what I did not like about this movie)
Alright… Here you go… These are all the aspects I liked about the movie.
Story: The story took me by surprise… I was expecting yet another save the world story in which the bond fights either Chinese or Russians or perhaps Iranians (given the current world context) as usual. But this one was totally different. It was about one of their own ex secret services agent wanting to take revenge against the British secret services for being left behind and let to suffer in the hands of the enemy.
Screen Play – For a movie of 2.5 hours, there were very little or no flaws in the screen play. Thats tough
The Bond himself – Daniel Craig to me is by ‘The Best Bond’ ever Period! I dont think anyone else could have played this role better than him. In the previous Bond movies he lacked the suttle humor that usually other bonds have… But in this one he has take care of that.
The Bad Guy – Javier Bardum. Oh man… This guys performance is simply outstanding. In the character besides being Ex MI6, he is also Gay… He has brought the Villan role with Gay characteristics quite brilliantly. As a matter of fact in the scenes when he was there along with the bond, he had made a better impact I should say. One thing that stood out was the first opening dialog he gives when he meets the Bond. It looked like a long dialog (telling a story)Â in a single frame shot.
The Mom – Judy Dench – She is a great actress. There is nothing new about that. But particularly in this movie, she has been quite extraordinary with the emotional scenes.
Helen McCrory as Clair – I have to say this. Though she is in the movie for a very short time she has played the role of a ‘abused girl friend’ brilliantly. The scene when the Bond talks to her and asks her to take him to the bad guy, her expressions brilliant. With a need a keep a smile on her face and at the sametime wants the Bond to kill the bad guy because how much she has been abused was really good..
Having spoken particularly about the cast, here are some other really cool things about the movie.
The chase sequence – I mean this is a given for any bond movie, a gripping chase sequence. Although the first chase sequence in this movie is not quite as thrilling as the one in Casino Royale, it was still worth the money… Particularly the mortor cycle chase on the roof top and the stunts on top of the train were very well done
Seeing the Bond fail – On many occasions, the story has let the Bond fail consciously. That has just added more reality to the movie unlike other Bond movies in the past.
Now that we have heard a lot of good things about the movie, there are a few not so good things about the movie as well (in my opinion ofcourse).
Music/Background score – I would only give an average score for the music/re-recording. Its not the best. Some of the scenes could have had a better impact with better background scores
Bond & ‘the woman’ – Its the bond’s tradition to sleep with a stranger woman. Well this one is no different. I felt that except that the director wanted to go with the tradition, there was no reason to show in the movie a scene when the Bond sleeps with this woman.
Long Climax:
Although the plot of the climax was good, it was way too long. The director could have ended the climax when the bad guy is killed atleast 10 mins sooner with no impact to the movie.
The Dupe’s: It is obvious that some stunt scenes may not be possible by the hero himself. I felt that there were a couple of scenes when it was evident that they have used a dupe and it is not Daniel Craig. It may have been ok in some other movies. But not in a Bond movie pls…
Well.. Thats all I had to say about the movie… I will give a 7 out of 10 score for this one..
Its worth the wait (I mean waiting for when the movie would end đ ), worth the money.. Pls do watch in theaters.
Would love to hear your thoughts on my review. Let me know what you think. Cheers!
Innocence of a child
I have often been dumb struck by some of the questions that my daughter asks me. What I heard from her a couple of days back was one of the best.
Courtesy: gocolumbiamo.com
It was a slightly unusual morning⌠We woke up to some kind of commotion from the kitchen. Apparently, my mom had placed an apple by mistake on the kitchen counter top the previous night and it seemed like a rat had visited, eaten a portion of the apple. She was so upset about Rat at home (particularly in the kitchen) and was telling all of us about what happened⌠Basically just the usual reaction from anyone when they find Ratâs presence at home and all the usual reactionâŚ
But a very unusual response came from my daughter after hearing my mom and seeing the half eaten apple. She said, âPaati (grandma)⌠Rat has a small mouth, imagine the difficulty it would have had in eating such a big piece like thisâŚâ She questioned my mom, âWhy did you not cut them into pieces so that the Rat could have eaten it easily⌠Every time you ask me to eat apples you cut them into pieces⌠When you give me Chappathi (Indian Bread), you cut them into piecesâŚâ
I was pleasantly surprised at this comment from my daughter. While all of us where worried about what else could have happened, should we clean some of the vessels on the counter top, how to prevent the rat from coming again, my daughter was actually concerned about the Rat and how to make its job easier while eating.
It is quite surprising how we all have grown up being so self-centered and sometimes have to be reminded by a child to be concerned for others.
Genius of Ilayaraja
I recently I started listening to some of Raja Sir’s hits which I havent heard for a while. Check this out… This is one master piece of a song from Raja Sir.
The best part of this song is the Introductory Guitar music with Flute. Then check out the violin music before the Charanam (After anu pallavi)…
The Dark Knight Rises – A thorough entertainer
The trilogy could not have had a better ending. This one was a thorough entertainer. You name it, the movie has it… Great director, cast, background scoring, screen play, and amazing use of technology, imagination, and I can go on.. Frankly all credit to Christopher Nolan for his direction. After a not so entertaining Batman movie (1st in the sequel) he has bounced back with fantastic direction on 2nd and 3rd…
Some highlights on the cast:
Christian Bale as the Batman has done perfect justice to the role of the Batman as he has done in the past. His physic and looks makes a perfect combination of Bruce Wyne and the Batman.
Tom Hardy as Bane – The bad guy with the mask. The well built Tom was perfect for the role. Also the slow dialog delivery makes his character have a special bad guy. I think the director has consciously chosen to do this and has been quite successful in that attempt. But it is a good thing that Tom Hardy has a mask on for this movie to be Bane. Otherwise his face does not fit the description of a bad guy at all. So good decision to go with the mask.
Michael Caine playing the role of Alfred has actually done better in this movie than the previous Batman. In the previous one, he is more of an advisor and nothing more. In this movie there are a lot more emotional conversations with Bruce Wayne which he has done really well.
Morgan Freeman – Needless to say. He has done his little cameo role very well.
The ladies of the movie Anne Hathaway and Marion Cotillard have been presented very well. Special mention about Anne Hathaway as Selina Kyle a petty thief, with an attitude has done really well and done justice to her role.
The movie itself:
The plot of the movie is very simple – While Bruce Wayne (the Batman) has been away into a self exile for 8 years and the Gotham city seems to be under control without any organized crime. But there are efforts going on to create fear and destroy the city. Batman comes back and saves the city.
Right from the beginning  to the end, except for the one twist on who the actual person who leads the bad people, there is absolutely no surprises. Atleast to me most of it was predictable. But yet, the screen play has been stunning to keep the interest despite being straight forward.
Things that I thought could have been done better:
a) The initial flight chase sequence and bad guys escaping which was almost like a James Bond or Mission impossible type stuff. I thought it could have been short or may be done differently.
b) Some dialogs from the Batman was very predictable and typical hero type dialogs. Although in the flow of the movie it did not sound too bad. But for a guy like Christopher Nolan, he could have paid some attention to removing stuff like that.
c) The football ground scene. With the whole ground behind the kickoff return guy going done, and bombs going off on all sides, the kickoff return guy seems to realize that everything behind him is gone only after he stops running… It sounded funny but did not seem intelligent at all…
There were a few other small blips in the screen play that I noticed but getting into the details might give away the story… Â but those could be ignored as well.
What I really liked about the movie:
a) The fancy super toys that the Batman uses.. đ Ofcourse the motorcycle and the hover craft that he uses were absolutely amazing.
b) The director’s imagination: Some of the things that he has shown are fantastic. Especially the motor super cycle chase sequence. When he wants to turn the opposite direction, the way the wheels turn and he gets back is absolute jaw dropping. I loved that scene. Infact it happens twice in the movie. Dont forget to watch that.
c) Music (background score) is mind blowing. There was not a single scene where the music director Hans Zimmer has not left his mark. Every scene had a perfectly balanced scores. I loved this.
d) Last but not least, most part of the movie was shot in Pittsburgh. I was actually in Pittsburgh when the movie was shot… To see all that in the actual movie was very heartening. After all Pittsburgh is my extended home town… đ
I know this review comes a little late but these are just my thoughts without telling the actual story. Â I would give 8 out of 10 for this movie.
Hope you like my comments and are helpful. Do leave a comment if you liked it.
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